People always ask me, “What exactly is coaching and how is it different from any other conversation?” A coaching conversation is different from other conversations due to the amount of questions asked, and the type of questions asked. In general, a coach should be doing 80% listening and 20% talking. If a coach is doing […]
Opening Pandora’s Box of Emotions Is Actually Good for Work
Let’s talk about managing disappointment. I don’t mean disappointment in a movie or new restaurant. I mean bone crushing, can’t get out of bed disappointment in achieving a big dream. When you try everything to conquer a big goal and it falls flat. I’ll tell you personally. One of my goals is to do a […]
How to Manage Habits That Inhibit Productivity
It’s hard to find individuals who are satisfied with their work productivity. Endless emails pop into our inboxes, a coworker stops by our desk for some advice or chitchat, the phone rings, social media notifications buzz our phones, our stomachs yearn for an afternoon snack, and before you know it, you’re Googling restaurant reviews in […]
Online Learning Increases Employee Engagement: How to Create Online Training Programs That Work
In my last two posts, I discussed why it’s important to incorporate the seven learning styles into adult learning and how online learning programs can do that effectively. In this post, we’ll look at some best practices for creating effective online learning programs that work in your organization, as well as practical steps to help […]
How to Effectively Motivate Employees
In 1968, the Harvard Business Review (HBR) published Frederick Herzberg’s article, “One more time: how do you motivate employees?”. This is still one of the most widely read HBR articles ever. The most important paragraph in the article says: “If I kick my dog (from the front or the back), he will move. And when […]
How to Delegate so Employees Stay Engaged
It’s easy, when someone from another generation is driving you crazy, to overlook the unique contributions they can make. Yet it’s crucially important to remember that every generation has strengths that can be leveraged for the overall good of the team. What does this mean for you, as a manager, as someone’s direct report, and […]
Leadership Guide for Managing Conflict, Part 3: Test Your Conflict-Handling Skills
Let’s put your conflict handling-skills to the test! In this three-part series on conflict management, I introduced the Thomas-Kilman Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI), a fantastic tool to guide leaders when facing conflict. With the introduction of TKI came an explanation of the five conflict-handling modes—competing, collaborating, compromising, avoiding, accommodating—and recognizing which mode you use most frequently. Then, we went through […]
Why Attracting and Retaining Diverse Talent is a Strategic Priority
To tackle longstanding workplace discrimination, many future-focused organizations are adding diversity officers to their leadership teams. Why? Because the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission didn’t solve the ethnic, racial and gender imbalances prominent in the U.S. workforce, and the issues aren’t going away on their own. For example, check out the following statistics about the dismal […]
Six Simple Strategies to Reduce Stress at Work
OSHA (The Occupational Safety and Health Administration) deemed stress a “hazard of the workplace,” and estimates put the cost of stress at $190 billion a year in annual healthcare bills. And it’s not isolated to specific industries – the problem is widespread. 65% of adults say that work is the source of their significant stress. […]
Leadership Guide for Managing Conflict, Part 2: What Conflict-Handling Styles to Use & When
Last week, I introduced the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI), my favorite tool for developing conflict management knowledge. Leaders can use this tool to identify the way they typically handle conflict, and to make informed decisions about choosing an appropriate style when facing conflict. After understanding the five conflict-handling styles, and identifying which style you use most, how […]
